How do you find the trigger pull weight?

[Darrin]

First, I've done some searching and could only find info where people mention trigger weight, but not how to find/measure it.

So, how do you measure the trigger's pull weight? Not just handguns, but shotguns, rifles, rocket launcher's, whatever. If it has a trigger, how do you find the weight? Is this something a gunsmith has to do? Can I use a fish scale to pull the trigger and hope to get an idea of where the scale was when the hammer drops?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[braindead0]

The easiest way is to buy a trigger pull guage, they can be had for fairly cheap.

I did it once using waxed linen string (fishing line would work well too) connected to a water bucket. Hold your weapon with the string through the trigger, with the barrel pointing up.. and fill the bucket with water (slowly) until the hammer falls.

Measure water, and voila....trigger pull. Probably not too accurate, but close.

 

[Darrin]

The easiest way is to buy a trigger pull guage, they can be had for fairly cheap.

Well, I guess that would be the easiest, huh?

How cheap? Perhaps I can tell one of my coworkers that he needs one so I can just borrow it.

 

[DontShootMe]

Here ya go...

Trigger Pull Gauge

 

[Bowlcut]

Im assumeing you mean me And since you didnt come to work today.......*rib*

Would be something nice to have, if I had any guns I cared to check their trigger pull often.

 

[Black_Talon]

Here's a cheaper trigger pull gauge. It will work fine for occaisional use. $17.42.

There's certainly higher-tech (and higher-cost) guages out there but this RCBS gauge will work just fine. It's what I used back in the '70'sand 80's to do lots of trigger jobs and it paid the rent for me.

 

[Steve Smith]

The lo-tech approach is to be sure your gun is unloaded, and then rest the butt of the gun on a scale, noting the weight of the gun. Now pull the trigger and watch the scale. No promises of accuracy.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Once you buy a trigger pull gauge, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"Measure water, and voila....trigger pull. Probably not too accurate, but close."

Actually, that's VERY accurate, and is not at all unlike the gauges on which you stack weights.

I've used the bucket (but use lead shot, as it takes a lesser amount) for years.

 

[Darrin]

Black_Talon, the link you gave shows exactly what I was thinking about with the fishing scale!

Thanks to everyone for the responses!



We now end this thread with some smilies: